Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-25
The Reynolds Square Petition.


1t is pretty safe to say that if the wishes
of the people of this city are consulted
the new post Office will not be located in
Reynolds square. 1t is not known how
the Council stands on the question OF do
mating that square 10 the government.
but it is probable that the 100 petitioners
who favor such donation will be disap-
pointed.
II the number of petitioners is to have
weight in the selection of site, the Union
Society lot has much the advantage. AS
many as 500 citizens signed petition In
favor of it.
There is very little that can be said in
favor OF Reynolds square as location for
the post Office. 1t is nonsense to say that
IL IS convenient Convenient to what?
10 the lower part OF Bay street. 1t GER
tainly is not convenient to the greater por-
ton OF the business section of the city.
The centre of business is somewhere
about the corner of Whitaker and Con-
gress streets. AS far as business
Is concerned Reynolds square
has the appearance of being
out OF town. Perhaps it is hoped that
business will grow up around it. 1t
| should not be forgotten, however, that
the government agent, when here to Sc
lect site, said that the government did
not desire to change the movement of
business from any direction 1t was TAX
ing. To select Reynolds square would
certainly tend to change the direction of
business. The direction OF both improve
ments and business is southwark, not
eastward.
The court house is to be in the new
building. The Union Society lot was OBJ
jected to because there is a stone paved
street in front of it and a street railroad
at the back ofit. Reynolds equare doesn't
enjoy immunity from the deafening noise
OF the Bay street floats, and the cars of
two street railroads add their rumblngs
to the din OF the floats. No, Reynolds
square is hardly the quiet place thai the
court needs.
Hthere were no other site obtainable
the advisability Of making the govern
ment present of the square might be
discussed, but there are other sites, and
much more desirable ones. They can be
had for their market value. Not long ago
the government sold square of ground
IN this city for all that it could get, and
it got pretty big prIce. II can afford to
pay as much, and more, for a site for a
building that it will own and control.
The government can pay for what it
wants. 1t isn't asking for donations OF
land, and it has no occasion to ask for
them. tits much ADLER to pay for build
ing site than the city is to make it pres
ent of one.
Ii the petition of the 100 citizens who
want to close one of the breathing places
of the city were in the interest OF some
charity, the Council might consider it,
but as it isn't 1t is probable that the
Council is of the opinion that as the
government is liberal in spending it's
surplus elsewhere in purchasing building
sites, 1t wouldn't be quite just to this city
to deprive it of the privilege of doing the
same thing here. 1t IS true that it is
urged that il the city furnishes the site
the government will furnish better
building, but we must trust to our Rep
resentative to get a sufficient amount APP
propriated for both a site and a building.
There is no good reason TO doubt his
ability to do that.